Weekly song, hymn and recorded music suggestions and resources for worship - based on the Revised Common Lectionary. Suggestions are posted on Wednesday nights, usually a few weeks in advance of each Sunday.

Iona (Love From Below) / CH434 / CP232Jesus is risen from the grave (CHILDER) Good, simple rhythm and tune. You can even make up some verses if you like. Good for kids.

*TiS 185 Alleluia We praise you God Creator Lord
(McIntyre) A chanted Alleluia based on Pachelbel's canon, coupled with
some nice affirmations of faith from a 2nd part of the congregation, or
cantor. This is quite lovely.

*MV123 Day after day night afer night (Bauman / Good) A lovely simple chant or Psalm refrain. Good for kids.

TiS
547 / AHB 455 / AoV1-009 / NCH451 / CH465 / A&M595 / UMH451 / VU642 / WoV776 /
ELW793 / HPP353 / GtG450 / PH339 / CP505 / CP(E) 386 / W&R502 / Cha595 /
Srce70 / URW180 / 82Hml-488 / Lau970 / StF545 / MP051 Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart (8th
century Irish) Most recent hymnals are fairly inclusive for this. Note that the High King phrase has been changed in some
hymnals because it is masculine, but the hymn is based on an ancient
story of St. Patrick refusing to follow the High King Logaire, and choosing instead the "High King of Heaven". Lyrics, tune and a little of the story. Oldy-but-a-goody.

UMH438 / VU416 / A&M476 / CP467 / CP(E) 430 / W&R718 / StF550 / Lau861 / MP159 Forth in thy name O Lord I go (Wesley) Timeless words about committing all our
works to God. I like this hymn best played lightly and joyfully with a simple drum
beat as a kind of minstrel tune, rather than a hymn. The old fashioned
words seem to make a lot more sense to me that way. Some hymnals
(including TiS) have sensitively modernised the words. Here's
an older version with the slow organ. Yeah, the slow organ is nice too,
I suppose, but I really like it about twice that speed... Oldy-but-a-goody.

*PfAS016D My heart is glad
(Beckstrand) I really like the words and tune to this Psalm
refrain. It will need to be sung through a couple of times before
reading the Psalm.

G(II)23 / GC24 / GC(II)19 / G(3)030 / URW235 You Will Show Me the Path of Life
(Haugen) Simple cantor and response "You will show me the path of life,
you my hope and my shelter, in your presence is endless joy and your
sight is my hope forever". Lyrics and sample sheet music.Sound sample.

MV157I am a child of God (Harding) A simple song with powerful words. Good for kids and adults alike. Very easy to learn. Good for kids, if you sing only the first verse.

TiS 465 / AHB 399 / ATA 115 / NCH279 / A&M271 / Iona (SBL) / CH116 / GA381 / Lau313 Our God in heaven / Father in heaven / Loving Creator grant to your children
(Maquiso / Niles) I really like this hymn, especially the Philippino
folk melody to which it's set. Newer versions of the hymn from the
Christian Conference of Asia have altered the lyrics to "Our God in
heaven / Creator God" in the first verse. Other versions, such as CH4
have "Loving Creator / Parent and God".

TiS 163 / AHB 112 / NCH556 / UMH150 / LBW463 / ELW771 / GtG024 / PH268 / W&R644 / Cha651 / URW084 / 82Hml-580 God who stretched the spangled heavens
Good words of creation of nature and cities and creative possibilities
for the future. AHB has a Father and old language, but it works okay;
TiS and other sources are better. There are many possible tunes. I like
it best to HOLY MANNA as in the link. Lyrics and sound sample.New words to old tunes

TiS 180 / UMH105 / W&R58 / Cha013 God of many names
(Wren) If this is new it will need to be taught to your congregation as
the tune is not intuitive, but it is worth knowing. The chorus is
particularly appealing to kids. Lyrics

TiS 164 / AHB 105 / CH358The great love of God (Niles) A simple creed song from the Christian Conference of Asia. The tune is really beautiful.

John 20:19-31Jesus gives peace and the Holy Spirit; Thomas.The theme of Christ giving peace will be repeated next week, so you may like to choose a song that you can use again next week.

NCH249 / GA517 Peace I leave with you my friends (Norbert) Slow, simple and excellent words. A congregation will pick this up the first time through, I think.

TiS 691 Faith will not grow from words aloneExcellent strong words of a questioning faith to a familiar hymn tune.

Tune in: We are the dream that's longing / Jesus is waiting.
An honest catchy rock song about our hesitation to follow and Jesus not
only waiting, but continuing to work and change the world. A good
sending-out song. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook available here.

Iona (Love From Below) / CH434 / CP232 Jesus is risen from the grave
(CHILDER) Good, simple rhythm and tune. You can even make up some
verses if you like. Good for kids. If you missed the Thomas verse at
Easter (or missed singing this song), you could sing it this week
instead. Good for kids.

ATOK 343 When disciples were frightened / Jesus come and stand among us (Mann) Lyrics here.

FFS07 Bring peace to us
(John Murray) A simple chant with two possible tunes. Both are good.
The first is a round. "Bring peace to us, bring peace through us, O God
bring peace"

*Iona (LFB) / G(II)407 / GC583 God give us peace that lasts
(Bell) Lovely words and a simple hymn tune. Prayer for peace, hope and
love. This can also be sung to LOVE UNKNOWN. New words to old tunes "God give us peace that
lasts, not through the fear of might, but through the force of love, and
love of life and right. Where costly wars and weapons lure, Show us our
Lord among the poor". Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music

*AoV1-091 / AoVK-68 / StS016 / G(II)527 / GC729 / GC(II)720/ G(3)821 Peace before us peace behind us
(Haas) love this one. Reflective. Careful not too get too schmaltzy
because it's long. Less is more. It's good to do something while singing
this song. I did a circle dance at church to this once upon a time, but I can't remember
how it went. It works well at a walking pace. Schmaltzy and SLOW sound sample. Lead sheet.Good for kids.

*CH786 May the God of peace go with us
(Jamieson) A lovely benediction to a traditional Scottish tune. "May
the God of peace go with us as we travel from this place; may the love
of Jesus keep us firm in hope and full of grace". It's a wee bit tricky.

*GGives2 What does peace look like to you
(Dyson) A really nice simple song for kids about peace. Lots of
questions about what peace might mean from images of nature, to an end
to war. The last verse talks about a "bridge from God to man" which
could be changed to "bridge from God to us". Good for kids.

NCH288 / UMH503 / Cha260 Let it breathe on me
(Lewis-Butts) Simple song welcoming the Spirit. This song makes me
think of sweet Southern ladies in floral dresses singing in the breeze. I
have no idea why.

*MV168 May peace be with you / Salamun Kullaheen (Traditional Lebanese) Simple chant in English and Arabic.

*SP&P034 Come and fill all my life (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A gentle and very simple song. Would be good for a meditation.

Seeds of Faith Peace Be With You (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A very simple kids song about peace, and sharing peace. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.

ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / A&M482 / GtG747 / SFFS 2184 / Lau855 / StF239 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing
(provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV
translation "Sent out in Jesus' name". Good for kids.Lyrics.

VU185 You tell me that the Lord is risen (Johns) A good hymn to a familiar hymn tune (NOEL) that tells the story of Thomas.

Recorded music: Doubting Thomas (Nickel Creek) One of the most powerful songs I know about being a postmodern doubting but faithful Christian. Lyrics here

Recorded music:I believe
(Zehnder) A great laid-back song about finding it hard to believe in
the midst of difficulty and the good times too. Sounds kind of like
Sting, I think. "I believe, help my unbelief". Lyrics. Sound sample.

Recorded music:Have Mercy
(Sandra McCracken) This lovely chant might be good to play during a
time of reflection, perhaps while people are lighting candles or
contemplating the sermon.... Sound sample and purchase options. Lyrics.

What will you be singing? Join the conversation and add a comment below - especially if it is something I have not thought of.

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Index of abbreviations (roughly alphabetical):

AA:Alleluia Aotearoa(New Zealand Hymnbook Trust)A&M: Ancient and Modern (2013 Edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern)AHB: The Australian Hymn Book, published as "With One Voice" in NZ, UK (1977) AoV, AoV2, AoVK, AoVNG:As One Voice, As One Voice 2, As One Voice For Kids and As One Voice The Next GenerationATN, ATA, ATOK, ATE, ATW, ATFG, ATAR:"All Together Now", "All Together Again", "All Together Everybody", "All Together OK", "All Together Whatever", "All Together For Good" and "All Together All Right".CH: Church Hymnary 4 (a.k.a. "Hymns of Glory Songs of Praise")Cha:Chalice HymnalChaP:Chalice PraiseCoC: Carol our ChristmasCP: Common Praise. Anglican (Canada).CP(E): Common Praise. Church of England.ELW: Evangelical Lutheran WorshipFFS: Faith Forever SingingGA:Gather AustraliaG(II) / GC / GC(II) / G(3): Gather 2nd Edition, Gather Comprehensive, Gather Comprehensive 2, Gather 3.GTB: Gospelling to the BeatGtG: Glory to God (sampler of New Presbyterian Hymnal)HiOS: Hope is our Song (NZ Hymbook Trust)HPP:Hymns for a Pilgrim PeopleHPSS / PH: Presbyterian (USA) Hymnal.Iona: Various Songbooks from the Iona communityLau: Laudate (Decani)LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship.MP: Mission PraiseMV: More Voices (United Church of Canada). MfL: Music for Liturgy (from St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church, San Francisco)NCH: New Century HymnalPfAS: Psalms for all seasonsSFFS:Sing the Faith/The Faith we SingSiS: Scripture in SongSLW: Sounds of Living WaterSP: Sing Praise, a new book from Hymns Ancient and ModernSP&P: Sing! Prayer and Praise, new bookSrce: The SourceStB: Sound the Bamboo, (Christian Conference of Asia) StF: Singing the Faith (UK Methodist)StJ/StS: Sing the Journey, Sing the StoryTaize: Various Songbooks from the Taize community TiS:Together in SongTOSB: The Other Song BookTune In:A collection of songs from Brunswick Uniting Church (my church!). Songbook available here. UMH: United Methodist HymnalURW: Upper Room WorshipbookVF: Voices FoundVU: Voices UnitedW&R:Worship and RejoiceWoV: With one Voice (Lutheran Book of Worship)ZSS: Zion Still Sings

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About me

I am a small l liberal, small o orthodox, small p progressive, big C Christian laywoman who started voluntarily suggesting songs for her congregation (Brunswick Uniting Church) each week. From that seemingly small task, this website has grown. I still do it entirely on a voluntary basis.
I grew up on a steady diet of Methodist hymn-singing and Scripture in Song. As a teenager I led a youth group and we did the whole Praise and Worship band thing and tried to be like Hillsong. We also had an a capella sextet that sang some pretty awesome African American Gospel. In my 20s, I grew to love Taize, Iona and African song (thanks World Council of Churches), then lived in the USA for 3 years and grew to love American hymnody, Sacred Harp singing, and cantored Psalms.
Congregationally, I like songs that are beautiful, that are intelligent, and that are inclusive. I believe a song doesn't have to be new to fit these criteria. I love songs written by people in my worship community, but I also think it's important to sing songs from other traditions and other countries.
I'd love to hear from you!
My email is: LectionarySinger@gmail.com